Trump pursues Kim Jong Un summit this fall, eyes November APEC meeting

President Donald Trump is reportedly pushing for a direct meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this autumn, according to the Wall Street Journal. The U.S. president has allegedly instructed his staff to arrange a summit, with a potential meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China in November being discussed.

This initiative follows Trump's recent order to "substantially reduce" joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises. Analysts suggest this move is a concrete signal to Kim Jong Un, demonstrating Trump's willingness to resume summit talks. The president himself cited his "very good relationship" with Kim as a partial reason for the drill reduction.

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Trump appears eager to secure a signature foreign policy achievement, particularly as progress in Iran has been slow. This pursuit of a "high-stakes meeting" contrasts with the approach of most past U.S. presidents, who avoided unconditional engagement with Kim, who is believed to possess dozens of nuclear warheads.

However, experts and some U.S. officials express skepticism about the potential for significant progress. North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities have advanced since the leaders' previous three meetings. Concerns are rising that Kim Jong Un may hold stronger negotiating leverage in any new talks, given North Korea's enhanced military power and strengthening ties with China and Russia.

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my very good relationship